The approaches on supporting creativity as a stimulus of developing local economy

Creativity is a new paradigm of development, which connects society in its economic, culture, technological and social aspects at the macro and micro level. Creativity, knowledge and access to information are central points of this paradigm and are considered to be engines of economic growth in globalizing world (UNCTAD, 2008). Creativity and creative economy is a new trend that is discussed among scientists but still more and more often also among politicians from international to local level. Creative economy defines and brings to the attention new categories such as creative industries and creative class. The economy with creative industries and creative class as people with creative talent are connected with the place as a creative place. Creative place is the most often specified by another category - creative city. Presence of creative industries and creative class within the structure of local (municipal) economics has an impact on competitiveness of the city. An ambition of each city is aimed at its increase. It is common that support and implementation of creativity, that are carried by creative industries and creative class, has become a part of enforcement approaches and strategies to bring the desired effect - the dynamics of city growth. The single approaches formulated into more or less comprehensive concepts have several common features - city is perceived as a space for creation of such an environment that can absorb and attract creative industries and creative class that are considered to be dynamising elements of urban development. Different concepts have their own characteristics and specific features as regards the ways of creating the creative environment and the importance or scale of creative activities and creative individuals within the structure of the economy. This paper focuses on different approaches, measures and instruments used or designed in order to support creativity at the local level. The local level cannot be examined without ties to higher levels of government. Key words: creative economy, creative class, local development, small and medium sized cities, policy support of creativity JEL code: H76, H81, R28